Texas, Ohio receive 2021 infrastructure report cards

By |  February 17, 2021
With five of the nation’s 13 most populous cities residing in Texas, demand for construction materials in the Lone Star State is, not surprisingly, very high. Photo: Art Wager/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Texas received a C grade on infrastructure from the American Society of Civil Engineers while Ohio received a C- grade. Photo: Art Wager/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images

Texas and Ohio each received infrastructure report cards, coming in at a C grade and C-, respectively, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

Each state’s respective ASCE section graded a number of infrastructure categories, including roads, bridges, highways, transit, rail, inland waterways and more.

In addition, each state’s infrastructure grade is above the U.S.’ national infrastructure grade of D+, which was last assessed by ACSE in 2017. The next U.S. infrastructure grade, which is conducted every four years, is expected from ACSE this year.

According to ACSE, its 2021 Report Cards are created as a public service to inform citizens and policymakers of the infrastructure needs in their state.

Texas

The Lonestar State received an overall grade of C from the Texas section of ACSE in its 2021 Texas Infrastructure Report Card, marking an improvement from its most recent C- grade in 2017. The report grades 12 infrastructure-related categories in the state.

By category, energy (B+) received the highest grade while bridges (B-) and transit (B-) also received above-average grades. Highways and roads (D+), however, did not fare as well.

“The ASCE Texas Infrastructure Report Card is a critical tool as we assess our needs and measure progress in actively building Texas into a better place to live, work, and raise a family,” says Rep. Dennis Paul (R-Texas). “We must continue to work together with all levels of government, community leaders, industry partners and universities, using this invaluable resource to help keep us better informed about the issues facing Texas.”

Ohio

The Buckeye State received an overall grade of C- from the Ohio section of the ACSE in its 2021 Ohio Infrastructure Report Card – the section’s first report in more than a decade.

Civil engineers graded 16 infrastructure-related categories in Ohio. While rail received a B grade, bridges (C+), roads (D) and transit (D) received lower grades.

“Infrastructure plays a vital role in the lives of Ohio’s residents and tourists, and supports commerce for local businesses and freight,” says Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio), who serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. “Ohio’s roadways and bridges carry the third-highest freight volume in the U.S. and accommodate the sixth-most vehicle miles travelled, making our state an essential tool in the national economy.”

Zach Mentz

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